Discussion continue on combining city and county dispatch. The city council also took the steps needed to start using Community Crossing grant and matching funds for roads.
COMMUNITY CROSSINGS
The City of Washington recently received more than $350,000 from a State Community Crossing grant. That led to accounting work for the city council on Monday evening.. In order to meet state requirements, the council passed an ordinance setting up a Local Bridge and Road Matching Grant Fund within the city budget. The Council members then approved a resolution moving $305,605.45 from the city’s road fund to the new fund to match the state grant. Two more resolutions were passed moving the money where it needs to be and now the matching funds can be used for the city’s road and bridge projects.
CENTRAL DISPATCH
A central dispatch center for the city and county was one of the topics at Monday’s Washington City Council meeting. Council President Alan Brown and Police Chief Todd Church discussed the on-going talks with the county about combining dispatch operations. Church said he wanted to be sure that city residents did not lose any public services. Mayor Joe Wellman also noted that he wanted to be sure the merger would save money.
CITY COUNCIL/SOLAR PANEL
Mayor Joe Wellman told those at the city council meeting last night that e Indiana Municipal Power Agency will be hosting a ribbon cutting on the new Solar Panel Farm on Washington’s west side.
The Mayor said the city’s school children have been invited to attend to opening of the latest technological advancement in the Washington area.
NEW RESERVE OFFICERS
Prior to Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Joe Wellman administered the oath of office to the Washington Police Departments three new reserve officers, Dirk Rhoads, Kane Waggoner, and Hugo Mandujano. The three new reserve officers, who are all Washington natives, introduced themselves and their family. Washington Police Chief Todd Church said that while the reserve officers are volunteers, they have full police powers while on duty and are required to put in 16 hours of service and training each month. Church also noted that almost all of Washington’s full-time officers came into the WPD as reserve officers.
BOW MEETING
During Monday’s meeting of the Board of Public Works and Safety, Sanitation Superintendent Scott Rainey presented the Board with a proposed policy that would allow Daviess County waste haulers to bring loads to the Washington Sanitation Plant. Rainey noted that the policy would only permit haulers based in Daviess County, and only allow waste originating in the county. . Rainey also said that the loads would have to pass a chemical inspection before they would be received. He noted that this would be another source of revenue for the Sanitation Department.
In other business, the Board approved 8 applications for the City’s sidewalk replacement program and agreed to an engagement letter with H.J Umbaugh and Associates for advisory services in budget reviews, levy appeals, and appropriations.